"Lord Red's Pokémon are truly in a league of their own," A.J. said, recalling his fainted Parasect with a resigned sigh.
"Contestant A.J. is down to his final Pokémon! What ace will he reveal to face the speed-boosted Kabutops? Keep your eyes on the battlefield—this next clash will be intense!"
The announcer's excitement was infectious, sweeping through the crowd like wildfire. Every spectator leaned forward in anticipation, eager to see what A.J. had saved for last.
"For a final ace, I'd bet on a power-type Fighting Pokémon like Machoke," Gary mused from the stands, analyzing the strategic possibilities. "That way, he'd have both the strength advantage and type effectiveness against Kabutops."
"No way! I think it'll be Pikachu for the speed advantage," Ash countered immediately, never one to agree with his rival. "Plus, Electric-type moves are super effective against Kabutops!"
Gary shot him an exasperated look. "Do you think just any Pikachu has impressive base stats? Only yours and Red's are special—Grandpa and Red have already classified them as Partner Pikachu, a completely unique variant."
"Wait, really?" Ash blinked in confusion, clearly hearing this for the first time.
"Of course you didn't know. Classic Ash," Gary said with a shake of his head.
"Alright, you two, knock it off. A.J.'s about to send out his last Pokémon," Leaf interjected, her patience wearing thin with their constant bickering.
All eyes turned back to the battlefield as A.J. gripped his final Poké Ball with visible determination.
"Lord Red, my original partner is up next. He's been itching for a rematch with you!" A.J. called out, then hurled the ball with conviction.
White light materialized into a Sandslash, its sharp claws gleaming and tough brown quills bristling with readiness.
"Wait—Sandslash?" Misty said, unable to hide her surprise.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Most spectators wore similar expressions of disbelief, struggling to understand why A.J. would stake everything on what appeared to be an ordinary Sandslash.
"Maybe it has some special talent or technique we don't know about," Leaf suggested thoughtfully.
A.J. and Sandslash remained unfazed by the crowd's skepticism, their focus solely on Red and Kabutops. When Sandslash locked eyes with Red, its gaze burned with excitement—this was the battle it had been training for since their first crushing defeat. Together, A.J. and Sandslash had traveled across the Kanto region, honing their strength for this very moment.
"Sandslash, use Swift!"
Sandslash crossed its claws and swept them forward, unleashing a barrage of star-shaped projectiles that streaked toward Kabutops.
"Kabutops, Fury Cutter."
Swift never missed its target, so Red opted for a direct approach. Kabutops' scythes blurred as it sliced through each glowing star with surgical precision.
"Now, Sandslash—Sandstorm!"
While Kabutops was occupied, A.J. seized the opportunity. With Sandslash at its center, a violent sandstorm erupted across the Grass venue, transforming the battlefield into a swirling desert landscape.
The referee hastily retreated several meters to avoid getting a mouthful of sand.
Though Red and A.J.'s platforms were far enough to avoid the worst of it, visibility dropped dramatically as the storm raged.
"An incredible turn of events! The Grass venue has been completely transformed by Sandslash's Sandstorm! What tactical advantage will A.J. leverage from this weather shift?"
The announcer's voice barely cut through the howling winds.
Fortunately, Kabutops' Rock-typing rendered it immune to the Sandstorm's chip damage.
"So it's Rock and Water-type," A.J. murmured, quickly recalculating his strategy. That meant Kabutops was weak to Fighting and Ground-type moves.
"Sandslash, use the storm as cover—Dig!"
With the Sandstorm weather active, Sandslash's Sand Rush ability kicked in, doubling its speed. In a blur of motion, it burrowed underground and vanished from sight.
The swirling sand obscured Kabutops' vision completely. Unable to track its opponent, Kabutops resorted to Metal Sound, filling the arena with a piercing screech designed to disorient Sandslash underground.
The relentless metallic noise disrupted Sandslash's sense of direction, forcing it back to the surface within Kabutops' line of sight.
Just as Kabutops prepared to strike, A.J. cracked a whip against the ground. At the signal, Sandslash curled into a tight ball and launched into a Rollout attack, barreling toward Kabutops with building momentum.
"Kabutops, Stone Edge—defensive formation."
Sharp stone blades materialized around Kabutops, but instead of launching them, Kabutops positioned them like a shield wall, absorbing the impact of Sandslash's rolling assault and steadily draining its momentum.
"Now—Razor Shell!"
Kabutops shifted into a quick-draw stance. Water gathered along its right scythe, then flashed outward in a devastating slash that sent Sandslash tumbling backward.
"What incredible technique!" Gary exclaimed, genuinely impressed. "He used Stone Edge defensively—I've never seen that before."
"Worthy of Lord Red! Transforming an offensive move into a defensive tool—absolutely brilliant tactical innovation!" the announcer gushed.
After taking the full brunt of Razor Shell, Sandslash immediately created distance, avoiding any follow-up attacks.
The sound of cracking echoed as Sandslash's tough quills visibly loosened—Razor Shell's defense-lowering effect had triggered.
"Looks like luck's on my side today," Red remarked casually.
"I never imagined Stone Edge could be used that way," A.J. admitted, his respect for Red's creativity deepening. "I still have so much to learn."